Illinois Hogeye to Prarie Grove

[ejbarton]

Does anyone have any advice on parking (Putin and takeout) and avoiding private land issued with this run? American whitewater shows that it's runable and I was hoping to run it tomorrow.

[cpresoz]

The traditional put in is right there a few yards behind the Hogeye mall at the bridge. You can take out at the old concrete bridge on Black Nursery Road just downstream from where the river goes under Hwy. 62 near Battlefield Park. There are a couple other road crossings, like Illinois Chapel Road. Steve Runnels would know. I'm not sure there's enough water but I'd like to go even if we have to haul our boats in a few spots. I live in Farmington.

[ejbarton]

Not 100% we will run it tomorrow. Probably going to work out the plan in the morning. Give me a call in the morning if you still want to come and I'll fill you in. 479 six 8 four 92 seven 9

[ejbarton]

Looks like it may be too low by tomorrow.

[cpresoz]

Thanks, Eli. Looks like everything dropped out. I'll go check out the access points today including the takeout on Orr Road. It's been years since I've seen them.

[ejbarton]

It seems so, let me know what the look like. I'd like to try this run again when it has water.

[cpresoz]

Definitely too low today, probably OK yesterday. I got some pics and will post to Facebook, but here's a shot of the ledges right above the takeout bridge on Orr Road.

[paddledog]

Spot on description Cpresoz.
To eyeball a level, go to the put in and look downstream of the bridge.
The first ledges you see right after the bridge should be easily runnable.
Here is a map to the complete run.
https://goo.gl/maps/8PFKfdiLPKB2
with an early take out on Kinzer road about a mile upstream of the Orr road take out.
This is a close to home, needs to be done run. One of my faves....
The bonus to the run is you float by one of the coolest castles on any local river.
If you see royalty hanging out there, wave and say hello. They seem to be great folks.

As for the private property issues on the river, treat it like any other remote run.
Respect their rights. Minimize your footprints. Pack out more trash than you bring in.

Be sure to check in with the store owners if they are open to ask to park in their lot.
If you don't want to, or they aren't open, I park on the river left side of the bridge.
The walk down is a bit worse on the river left but doable.....
Have fun and keep a reserve of strength, the rapids in the last mile or so are some of the most
technical.

[cpresoz]

Thanks, Paddledog. I waved at a couple crossing the slab bridge on Kinzer and imagined them to live at the castle at the bend in the river. And I chatted with some locals at the Orr Bridge. And I did the obligatory trash pickup at the gravel beach at Orr Bridge. It was a little trashed, but not too bad. The mall was closed but I saw where you could pull off at river left for the put in.